BARBECUE IN BIRMINGHAM, YET AGAIN

The award-winning Moshe Ribeinu kosher BBQ team. From L to R: Elisson, Bartimus Magnificus, Job Johnny. 

For the third year in a row, I joined a small army of my Men’s Club buddies to compete in the “When Pigs Fly” Kosher BBQ Cook-Off in Birmingham.

“When Pigs Fly” is a clever enough title for the event, that being approximately when pigs will be considered kosher.  It’s also a sly hat-tip to the event’s sponsor, Piggly Wiggly, the well-known Southern supermarket chain.


You can’t expect to make decent barbecue without a supply of well-soaked hickory chunks.

I’ve written about this event before, so there’s no need to go into overmuch detail.  Suffice it to say that we were disappointed to have returned empty-handed, having managed to avoid winning, placing, or showing in a single category.  No new swag for the trophy case this year, alas.

And yet, from the standpoint of Quality of Food, I would have to say that this year we produced the best barbecue we’ve ever made at this event.  Yes, I know I’m not a disinterested party, but I know what good is... and our stuff was good.  No: It was superb.

Our beans had great flavor, with a touch of Tennessee whiskey and a hint of habañero to provide a pleasant, punchy piquancy.  The ribs had the right balance of smoke and spice.  And the brisket... ohhhh, the brisket.  A monster eleven-pounder, it came out of the smoker jacketed with a gorgeous layer of smoke and bark.  It was amazingly moist and tender, yet not overcooked and falling apart.  If I had to do it over again, I wouldn’t change a single thing.


The beans were kicked up with a judicious dose of Jack Daniels, garlic, onion, and both jalapeño and habañero peppers.

 
The bark is part of the bite: A gorgeous beef brisket. Too bad you can’t smell it over the Internet.

My teammates - Job Johnny and the inimitable Bartimus Magnificus - will back me up.  My thanks to both of them for helping make this a memorable weekend... even without the trophical trinkets.


(What we look like when Bartimus is not standing on tiptoes and Johnny and I aren’t crouching.)